OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 2/5 



the morning and after a few hours' continuance, is 



o 



relaxed to be renewed at sunset. Its sonof is con- 



o 



tinned until late in the season. 



The flight of this bird, like most of the Fringil- 

 lidcc, is low, undulating, and but slightly prolonged. 



Its food consists of insects and seeds of various 

 kinds. It loves to visit fallow ground, where it 

 derives a considerable portion of its food, being 

 exclusively terrestrial while searching for the same. 

 We have observed it feeding upon the seeds of 

 Phleum prtetense, the various species of Pauicum 

 and Poa, Amarantus hybridus, A. albus, and occa- 

 sionally upon the freshly sown seed of Raphanus 

 sativus, and the common salad. The following 

 insects have been found in several stomachs which 

 we have examined in the spring- time:- -Harpalus 

 compar, Casnonia pcnnsylvamca, Platynus cupripen- 

 m's, Hal tic a chalybca, Scarites siibterraucus, Cra- 

 tonychus cinereus, Formica sanguined, F. subterra- 

 nea, and Lumbricus terrestris. Later in the sea- 

 son the larvae of Anisopteryx vernata, A. pometaria, 

 Zerene catcnaria, Eujitchia ribcaria, Gortyna ze<z, 

 and mature forms of Pcnthina pomonclla, Hale- 

 sidota tcsscllaris, Limacodes saipJia, Plitsia prcca- 

 tioms, and others. The \ ouyg are fed upon the 

 larvce of the foregoing lepidoptera, aphides, spiders, 

 and earthworms. The fruit of Fragaria Virginica, 

 Rub us villosus, and the wild choke-cherry are 

 also eaten. 



Nidification commences during the last of 

 April or the begining of May. The nest is mostly 



